All I Want To Do Is Talk About Madonna

S4, E5 - I Deserve It

Mark and Kenny contemplate earning the yearning and Madonna’s early time with Guy Ritchie while discussing the soulful and stirring first ballad on Music. Topics include spiritual growth, message tank tops, christening interlopers, and more photo ops with Quentin Tarantino. Does Mirwais dream about these squiggle sounds?

S4, E4 - Runaway Lover

Kenny and Mark break apart the charging third song on Music and what it truly means to be a “runaway lover.” Willam Orbit is back and stepping up his game, Mark cashes in all of those IOUs, and Kenny’s narrative takes a downward twist. Karma is a nasty mistress y’all, but we have that live version from the Brixton Academy to help us lick our wounds. “Come on London!"

S4, E3 - Impressive Instant

Mark and Kenny swoon over the swooping second song (say that ten times fast!) on Music. Changing of the Guard at Warner Brothers! Cher’s hit song “Believe”! Cock-blocking a fourth single! Celebrating the stellar Peter Rauhofer! Kenny builds a narrative arc around “like a bird on a wingy-wingy-wingy”, Mark focuses on hygiene, and Madonna rips up the rulebook AGAIN! I don’t even know your name, but we’re coming for you anyway!

S4, E2 - Music

Kenny and Mark launch into the 2000s with a bold and wide-reaching of Madonna’s HUGE hit first single from the seminal Music. Welcome to the dance floor, Mirwais Ahmadzai! Welcome back, Niki Haris and Donna DeLory! Keep your eyes on the road, DaBaby! And thanks for those remixes, Tracy Young and Stevie Nicks! It’s a non-stop party this season and it all starts HERE. Kenny almost moves to London and Mark acquiesces to the term “Icon”. Rev up that limo engine, Ali G - we are going out tonight!

S4, E1 - American Pie

SEASON FOUR: AMERICAN WOMAN (2000-2005)

S4, E1: American Pie/Time Stands Still & The Next Best Thing

Mark and Kenny resume the conversation with this deep dive into the troublesome Rupert Everett/Madonna movie from 2000 as Season Four: American Woman kicks off! Topics include Kirstie Alley, Don McLean, Neil Patrick Harris, Charlie Rose, John Schlesinger, Michael Vartan, Cher & Mark Steines, Benjamin Bratt, Malcolm Stumpf, Ileana Douglas, … and Lynn Redgrave. Kenny is fascinated by footwear, Mark reveals an alternative casting choice for TNBT, and a lost Madonna power ballad finally gets its due. Plus, stay tuned for a dramatic, 11th hour twist that feels both contrived, yet inevitable (and VERY The Next Best Thing)! Julia Roberts, we’re coming for that Oscar!

Beautiful Stranger

SUMMER EPISODE: BEAUTIFUL STRANGER (Rated NC-17!)

Kenny and Mark succumb to the rising temps and revealing short-shorts with a hot and dirty (and a little messy) romp through Madonna’s dazzling contribution to the Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me soundtrack. Topics include the troubled relationship with Andrew Bird and his random encounter with Guy Ritchie, the doomed discography of solo Spice Girls, the influence of the 60s psychedelic band LOVE, Victor Calderone’s graduation from Madonna Remix College, the rich legacy of Kevin Aucoin, Mike Myers, a young Kathryn Hahn, a certain tribute at the MTV Music Awards, the recorded reunion of The Bangles, and hanging out with Beatles. Do I make you horny, baby?

BONUS EP - Something's Coming Over Me

Mark and Kenny pass the microphones over to our beloved listeners, who join the conversation and share their stories about their favorite Madonna song and moment up through 1998 on this Very Special Episode. Laugh, cry, and celebrate all the ways the music has changed our lives, together.

Thank you to:

Shane Beckely, Los Angeles, CA

Bart de Beer, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Qraig de Groot, Union City, NJ

Simon Delaney, Melbourne Australia (G’DAY, AUSTRALIA!)

Alex Giron, Lima, Peru

Daniel Pabst, Berlin, Germany

Wayne Parker (of “The Madonna Get Together” podcast)

Brandon Perlberg

Jeremy Ritz, New York, NY

Annie Stephens, Columbus Ohio

Tony Trius (of “MLVC” podcast) Los Angeles, CA

Beauregard Von Hoffman, Hollywood, CA

Weston, Savannah, GA

S3, E27 - Mer Girl

Kenny and Mark wrap up a twisty-turvy season full of growth, artistic challenges and discoveries, lots and lots of change, and a breathtaking final musical statement on Ray of Light. Topics include Michigan, Joan Ciccone, the value Madonna gets from keeping things simple, and a searching discussion of home. Plus, Mark breaks one of his cardinal conversation rules - yep, the word “journey” is BACK! Thank you for listening this season … we will see you very soon, Strangers.

S3, E25 - To Have and Not To Hold

Kenny and Mark take hold of this album track and the final act of Madonna’s tale of lost love - and ponder the different directions her story could have taken, through the demos for “Has to Be” and the lost “Gone Gone Gone.” Plus, a drive-by discussion of the duet with Ricky Martin “Be Careful (Cuidado)” and charting the growth of Madonna’s formidable songwriting skills. Is Ray of Light ultimately too long? Will Breathless Mahoney ever find a drummer for her run at the Coconut Grove?

S3, E24 - Power of Goodbye

Mark and Kenny examine the wild and woolly intricacies of the affairs of the heart (yet again) on the other “pop single” from Ray of Light. Topics include STEVIE NICKS!, Rick Nowels, Matthew Rolston, Goran Višnjić, Luke Slater, Gloria Estefan, Meryl Streep, Ellen Degeneres, and the scattered (and sped up?) promotional performances. There’s nothing left to say … so head on over to a sample sale and buy Kenny a jumpsuit, will you please??

S3, E23 - Frozen

Kenny and Mark keep their hearts (and, one hopes, minds) open as they explore the inner mysteries and magnificent heartbreaks of THE Orbit/Leonard/Madonna collaboration (and lead single) of Ray of Light. Topics include Carlos Leon, a fortuitous professional break-up letter, the perils of the California high deserts, and those strings … so don’t be surprised when Madonna shows up to sing at YOUR Benefit for the Rainforest!

S3, E22 -Shanti Ashtangi

Mark and Kenny bow to the lotus feet of the gurus and stretch into a proper down dog pose to prepare for this spiritual apex to Ray of Light. Topics include yoga classes in the East Village, the power of a flute solo, a first-pass discussion of famed official B-Side “Has to Be” and Madonna’s second, antics-filled appearance on The Rosie O’Donnell Show. Now translate this into Sanskrit!

S3, E21 - Sky Fits Heaven

Kenny and Mark settle back down for a vulnerable chat about the ethereal and charging seventh song on Ray of Light - is following our heart really a very good place to start? What kind of movies should Madonna have been making all along?

S3, E20 - Nothing Really Matters

Mark and Kenny dive deep - no, really deep - in a warts-and-all conversation about the complicated and confounding final single from Ray of Light. Topics include the musical clash between Marius de Vries and William Orbit, the return of Niki Haris and Donna DeLory, a spin around the East Village with Kruder & Dorfmeister, building an entire video around a literary pseudonym, the one subject that still upsets Madonna, Kenny works out with Rupert Everett, and a winning visit to the Grammy Awards. PLUS, Kenny and Mark unearth and endlessly unpack the true Madonna biopic - the 1998 VH1 special (and essential) Madonna Rising. There’s even a cameo by Larry King. Tell Bad Boy Johnny we want our synths back!

S3, E19 - Skin

Kenny and Mark celebrate a centerpiece track on Ray of Light - including exploring the early “Flirtation Dance” demo and the lost “Revenge” - as well as a rare visit into the studio with Madonna. I’m not like this all the time, Veronica Electronica!!!

S3, E18 - Candy Perfume Girl

Mark and Kenny suck on a bunch of theories as to who (and what) this song is about with a discussion of the many pop princess successors nipping at Madonna’s heels and a close examination of the mystical lyrics to this psychedelic gem. Kenny grapples with Madonna’s relationship with the guitar and Mark makes a shocking prediction for his own future. Also: Enter Guy Ritchie.

S3, E17 - Ray of Light

Kenny and Mark celebrate the 100th episode of All I Want To Do is Talk About Madonna with a return to the dance floor and a definitive Madonna classic of rebirth and a true return. Topics include the twisty-turning way this song was written, created and re-created, the wild (and golden) video and mega-remixes, Veronica Electronica, and the many, many live incarnations of the song - including a return visit to the Oprah Winfrey Show. Feel something, baby!!


THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!!!!!!!!

S3, E16- Swim

Mark and Kenny swim to the ocean floor with a deep dive into the career of William Orbit as well as the apocalyptic, riff-filled second track from Ray of Light. Topics include Orbit’s Strange Cargo series, composer Samuel Barber, Torch Song, Laurie Mayer, All Saints and The Beach soundtrack, Gianni Versace, Beth Orton’s Central Reservation, Britney Spears’ Britney Jean, Blur’s 13, David Cronenberg’s CRASH and the inspiring novelist JG Ballard. Let the water (and the music) wash all over you!

S3, E15 - Drowned World/Substitute for Love

After making fans wait nearly four years, Madonna delivers what may prove to be her first true blue rock album Ray of Light and commences with a moody ballad (co-written with new collaborator William Orbit) of new credos and fresh religions.  Meanwhile, Kenny and Mark tie up a lot of loose threads as we head into the “Spiritual Girl” era and celebrate the inspiring return of Pat Leonard.  Topics include: Animal Kingdom, the MTV and those pesky VMA, Kurts Loder and Cobain, Prodigy, Britney Spears, Princess Diana, Beck, Maverick Records, the Pre-Madonna album and “Crimes of Passion”, Jose & Luis, Elizabeth Taylor & Shirley Maclaine, Yoga & Gwenyth Paltrow, Rick Nowels, Rob Sheffield, San Sebastian Strings, Water Stern, the poetry of David Collins (RIP), Courtney Love and HOLE, BT&Sasha, Kenny’s writing chum Nathan Parker, the Rolling Stone Women In Rock September 1997 issue, and the realization that Madonna is really starting to chill out in London.  Is it “traded fame for love” or “traded love for fame”?  Who’s gonna wrestle that disposable camera away from that prying housekeeper?  Join the conversation and find out.